Penn Hills alumni give back to district by donating school supplies

Alumni from the Penn Hills class of 2001 wanted to find a way to give back to the school district that left an impact on them after graduating.

The class showed its gratitude by collecting school supplies to donate to Penn Hills Elementary School earlier this month . The tote contained markers, crayons, pencils, colored pencils and wipes. Two alum representing the class presented the tote to superintendent Nancy Hines and elementary principal Kristin Brown.

”It’s a full circle moment to be able to give back. I have so many fond memories of being at the elementary school,” alum Erin Pavlock said.

Pavlock was senior class vice president and had Hines as her biology teacher during her time at Penn Hills. She hopes this gesture encourages other classes to give back. A lot of times the supplies come out teachers’ pockets, she said.

Ashley Johnson, another alumnus, worked in the school’s office and was on the student newspaper.

Johnson said the idea to collect supplies came from one of the class of 2001 graduates Carrie Ponce O’Kelley. O’Kelley talked to the class president and reunion planning committee chair, Brooke Luthultz, about it at their 20th class reunion in September. The class stepped up to donate supplies, Johnson said.

“We wanted to give it to anybody in need. I cherished my time at Penn Hills,” she said.

Brown said this generosity helps recognize that students can benefit from this support.

“Seeing them (the alumni) knowing our kids can have that success is nice,” she said.

Brown said this may be the first time alumni have directly donated to the elementary school. The school district had alumni come back to speak to students through its summer program .

Hines said the donation was reassurance of the school’s goal to provide a positive experience for students.

“This is what we encourage to see from alumni is they have fond memories that compel them to give back,” she said.